Untitled (from Poèmes d'Eugenio Montale) - Gerard Schneider

A dynamic lithograph by Gerard Schneider, featuring bold, gestural black brushstrokes and a striking red accent against a muted green field.

This lithograph by Gerard Schneider originates from the 1960 publication 'Poèmes d'Eugenio Montale', a collaborative project produced in Milan. Schneider, a central figure in the movement known as Lyrical Abstraction, moved away from the rigid structures of geometric abstraction to explore the expressive potential of gesture and spontaneous mark-making. His work prioritises the physical act of painting, where the movement of the brush dictates the final composition. The image displays a central cluster of dense, black calligraphic strokes set against a muted green background. A singular, sharp red form cuts through the upper portion of the black mass, providing a point of visual tension. The brushwork exhibits a high degree of energy, with visible bristles and varying pressure creating a sense of rapid execution. The edges of the central form appear frayed, suggesting the speed at which the artist applied the ink to the stone. Unlike the structured compositions of earlier modernists, Schneider focuses on the immediate impact of form and colour. The interaction between the opaque black ink and the textured green ground creates a shallow, yet dynamic, spatial effect. This print captures the essence of Schneider's approach to the medium, where the lithographic process allows for a direct translation of his painterly gestures. The work avoids representational imagery, instead inviting the viewer to engage with the rhythm and balance of the marks themselves. It is a representative example of the post-war European shift toward subjective, non-figurative expression, where the artist's internal state is communicated through the raw application of pigment.